Shopping Cart

Author Archive for katieart

I am working on many new “Spring” themed original paintings! I have 5 completed and 5 more in the works. These pieces of original art feature many colours including green, blue, yellow and pink! Below is a sneak peak close up of one of the largest pieces. Stay tuned and follow my facebook page for updates: http://www.facebook.com/katienapierabstractartist

Facebook fans get the most up to date info on everything, including special pricing and first to know about the Sales!
This new Vancouver abstract art will also be very affordable and can fit any budget. Sizes start at 12″x12″ and go up to 48″x48″.

I have a HUGE abstract art sale on my Facebook page – Auction Style! Every piece of Original Artwork I have is up for grabs!

With Free Delivery to North and West Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast, you can’t go wrong with some of these starting bids on original art!

Decorate your walls and get your home ready for the Holidays with some new original Abstract Art at incredible prices! Or, with some of these low prices, why not give a piece of original art to a loved one for the Holidays?

If so, you will be entered to win an original painting. (Winner will get to choose their favorite of these two options).
Option 1: 24″x 18″x 1.5″ – Option 2: 30″x 16″x .75″ (3 panels measuring 10″ x 16″ ea.)

All you have to do:

1. Take a photo of your painting in your space. For each painting you have, you will get an additional entry. The more paintings you have, the more entries you get! So please send one photo for each painting hanging.

TIPS: Try and take photos in good natural light. If you have more than one photo of the same painting, different angles perhaps, don’t hesitate to send me as many as you like and I will choose the one that works the best.

The winner gets to choose one of the two original paintings worth $225 each.

Please note I will be using the photos for promotion on my website and on social media sites such as facebook. Names of the owners and all other information will be kept confidential. Please note that the winner must have completed all 3 steps to be selected as a winner.

Contest is open until September 30th, 8pm. All entries will be entered into a draw and a random winner will be chosen.

A selection of some favorite Abstract art paintings. Affordable modern art, each painting is original and hand painted by Katie Napier, an up and coming artist now living on the Sunshine Coast, just a short ferry ride from Vancouver.

I’m really excited to announce the formal “launch” of my new website created by Vancouver’s Stand Out Online. They did a wonderful job of creating a beautiful website to showcase my abstract artwork. In honour of this new site and new artwork, I’m offering a facebook fan coupon of 20% off! All you have to do is hop over to my facebook page and become a fan: www.facebook.com/katienapierabstractartist

I’ve been lucky enough to have an interview published by 365 Small Business Profiles! For the original, full interview, please visit: http://365smbprofiles.com/?p=244

Painting and Profits, Katie Napier Abstract Artist

Abstract Art article, featured on the home page of 365 Small Business Profiles.

Katie Napier is an abstract artist creating modern paintings inspired by nature. She started her business in 2009.

SMB Profiles: What prompted you to become an entrepreneur? How did you get started in this particular business?
KN: I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My father created an office supply business that grew to include over 100 people. He started by fixing one photocopier in his basement. My great-aunt (my Dad’s mentor) was a successful entrepreneur after becoming a widow and having to take over the company to support herself and her four kids. So, I guess I’ve always been around successful, driven business owners. I don’t think I will be nearly as successful as they both were, as I am having too much fun being a stay-at-home mom..… but you can always dream.

I’ve always been creative. I always wanted to be an artist, ever since my childhood. I thought about it seriously in High School, but also thought practically about it, as I knew typically artists struggled financially. So I decided to become a practical artist. I became a Graphic Artist. I attended college and took general arts studies, many art history classes and took night classes to build up my portfolio for acceptance in to design school. After acceptance, I then attended a design college for three years and got 2 Design Diplomas

SMB Profiles: Are you full-time or part-time in your business? How many hours per-week do you work on or in your company?
KN: This is a part-time business. My dream is to expand it in to a full-time business. I also run my own graphic design firm and have been doing so for 10 years. Today, my 2 little boys (ages 4 and 16 months) take up most of my days, which is a lot fun, but challenging to fit in the time for everything… but I still manage to run both the businesses part-time and am able to be a stay-at-home mom. Between the actual painting and managing the social media / website, blog posts aspect of things, I probably spend about 20-30 hours a week.

SMB Profiles: How did you acquire funding for the initial startup costs for your business?

KN: I didn’t need funding to start my company. I just used the money from my first sale to buy some more supplies and then I started small and slowly. Because I am a graphic designer, I was able to do all my own branding and my first, original website set-up, social media etc.

SMB Profiles: What was the process like?
KN: Well… this isn’t your typical start up story.
I never really thought I could become an artist. I just started painting a few years ago and I really enjoyed it. It was somewhat therapeutic. One evening, a family member was over for dinner and saw a large abstract painting on the wall that I had created. He said he loved it and offered to buy it. I laughed it off and thanked him for his compliments as I thought he was just being kind. He then said, “no, I’m serious… I will give you $600 for that painting”. Well.. he left that night with the painting, and the rest is history. I went out and bought some more canvases and paint with my profits, but more importantly, this gave me the confidence to follow my dreams and create more artwork. I figured if he liked the piece, maybe others would too. I created a little do-it-yourself website (I have since upgraded to a professionally designed site), opened up a Facebook page, attended some craft fairs, posted classifieds and to-date have sold close to 150 original paintings

SMB Profiles: A long the way, what mistakes did you make?
KN: I honestly can’t think of any real “mistakes” that I have made. I have done a lot of experimentation in my painting and in my marketing. Along the way, you learn what works and what doesn’t. What people like and what they don’t like as much. So you take that information and try again. You re-jig it and see if that works. I feel that you always have to be evolving both creatively, and in your business.

SMB Profiles: What are some free/low cost resources you use in your business and would recommend to others?
KN: Social Media
The importance of a well designed website and professional promotional materials. (I’m sure this could be coming from the Graphic Designer in me though)

SMB Profiles: What popular entrepreneurial advice do you disagree with or what is the worst piece of business advice you’ve received?
KN: I can’t think of any, really. But people are always going to give you advice in everything you do. Be it a new business or being a new parent. Politely, take what applies to you, and brush the rest off. I don’t have the thickest skin in the world, but I definitely had to thicken up and learn to roll with the punches and try and not take things personally.

SMB Profiles: Is this your only business? Do you have additional businesses?
KN: Yes, I have been a graphic designer for 10 years. My company is Stoker Designs.www.stokerdesigns.com

SMB Profiles: What is next for your company?
KN: To expand to selling more pieces on-line and to get my artwork in to a few new stores. (Currently I have my artwork in 3 stores). My dream would be to be represented by an Art Gallery one day.

I had the opportunity to create this stunning triptych for a the lobby of a Vancouver law firm in downtown Vancouver. This original abstract painting measures a total of 12 feet by 8 feet, so it was quite the challenge to paint, deliver and install. But it was a fun experience to create such a large piece of abstract artwork and they were thrilled with the end result.